Once there was an old farmer, with a horse which was almost as old as himself. He set out one morning with his son to sell the horse before it died. Father and son walked, because the farmer did not want the horse to be too tired. They met two men on the road who said, "Why are you walking, farmer? You have a horse, It’s a long way to market(市场). " The farmer know that this was true, so he rode on the horse, while his son walked. Then they met two old women, "What are you doing up there, farmer? Can’t you see how tired the boy is?" So the farmer got down, and his son rode instead.
Next, three old men stopped them, one said, "Why are you walking, farmer? Get up, It’s too hot for an old man like you to walk today," So the farmer got up behind his son, and they rode on. Some time later, a young woman passed them, "Why aren’t you walking?" she asked, "It isn’t far to the market. Give your poor horse a rest." So the farmer, and his son, got down once again. It is a fact that you cannot please all the people all the time.
1. The farmer wanted to sell the horse ____.
A. before it was dead
B. before it become too tired
C. before it market was over
D. before it was as old as he was
2. The two men on the road ____.
A. asked how far it was to the market
B. said they thought the horse looked very tired
C. asked why the farmer was not riding on his horse
D. told the farmer’s son to get off the horse and walk
3. The two old women said it was wrong for ____.
A. the farmer to ride such a tired horse
B. the farmer to ride while his young son walked
C. the boy to ride instead of his father
D. only one person to ride such a long way
4. The farmer got up behind his son because ____.
A. the old man said it was too hot for him to walk
B. the three old men stopped them on the road
C. he did not know why he was walking
D. his son could not ride the horse by himself
5. The young woman was most sorry ____.
A. for the old man
B. for the farmer’s young son
C. that it was not far to the market
D. for the horse
